Roche Tower 2

Roche Tower 2
Roche Turm Bau 2
Roche Tower 2 (left)
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeOffice
LocationBasel, Switzerland, Grenzacherstrasse 124
Coordinates47°33′34″N 7°36′26″E / 47.55945°N 7.60726°E / 47.55945; 7.60726
Construction started
2018
Opened2 September 2022
CostCHF 550 million
OwnerHoffman-La Roche
Height
Architectural205 m (673 ft)
Technical details
Floor count50
Design and construction
Architecture firm
Herzog & de Meuron

Roche Tower 2 (German: Roche Turm Bau 2) is an office skyscraper in Basel, Switzerland. At 205 metres (673 ft), it became the tallest building in Switzerland upon its opening on 2 September 2022, surpassing its sibling structure, Roche Tower.

The tower was developed by pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche and designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron. It comprises 50 floors and accommodates approximately 3,200 employees. It is also designed to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 6.9.

Architecture

The building has been likened to a "giant shark fin" rising over Basel’s skyline. It follows an “activity-based working” model, with flexible and shared workspaces rather than fixed desks. The ground floor contains a vertical garden designed by botanist and landscape architect Patrick Blanc. The tower incorporates sustainable construction principles, including modern building technology and environmentally conscious materials.

History

In June 2016, the cantonal parliament of Basel-Stadt approved the construction of Roche Tower 2, with 84 votes in favor, two against, and five abstentions. It formed part of a broader CHF 3 billion investment in Roche’s Basel campus, which also included a new research facility. At the time, Roche Tower 2 was expected to be completed by 2021 and to surpass Roche Tower 1 as the tallest building in Switzerland. The project drew attention due to Switzerland’s restrictive urban planning regulations, which limit the construction of high-rise buildings.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Roche Turm Bau 2 - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Höchstes Gebäude der Schweiz - Neuer Roche-Turm überholt seinen «kleinen» Bruder". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 2 September 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Roche inaugurates Switzerland's tallest building". Swissinfo. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  4. ↑ "Herzog & de Meuron unveils Basel campus for Roche healthcare". Dezeen. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Office towers go higher, bigger, greener – but what's the point?". Swissinfo. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Neuer Roche-Turm - So sicher ist das höchste Gebäude der Schweiz". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 9 December 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "Switzerland's tallest building gets green light". Swissinfo. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2025.